Doodles

Doodle #106, Easter, Not Chocolate Flavored

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Growing up Easter for me was a time of chocolate bunnies and candy. It was a time of rabbits and chicks. Sure I knew about the connection between Easter and Jesus. I had heard the story of the resurrection and how Jesus still lives today. The problem for me was at the time it was just fanciful stories told to me by what I referred to as Bible thumpers. Those thespians who spun tales of woe in order to get me to behave.

You see me parents grew up around church but never imparted any what I will call outright “Bible knowledge” to me. My mom, however taught me biblical principles growing up. Things she learned from her parents like love your neighbor, treat others as you want to be treated among other truths. I learned but it really didn’t know where the wisdom came from, until I was in my twenties and received Jesus into my heart.

Now many years later I look at what Easter has become and have to ask as my rabbit friends ask “whatever happened to the true meaning of Easter?” From the cross to the grave, three days later He arose.

Doodle #104, A Ladybug Named Francis

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When I saw the prompt for today was the word ladybug, my mind immediately went to one of my favorite animated characters, Francis, the ladybug from the “A Bug’s Life,” movie. The reason I like the character is because Francis is not what he appears.  He is a tough guy wrapped in a not so tough attire.

Why do I bring this up is because in our society we are often judged by appearances first. If we don’t like what we see, well I’m sure you know what is happens next. The news is full of worst case scenarios of people misjudging someone because of appearances. Even I know first hand the sufferings of being bullied because someone deemed my appearance and demeanor were not up to their standards. It can be a crippling thing to be deemed different all because you do no meet another person’s standards. It can lead to a life time of turmoil.

The Bible says in John  7:24, to , “Stop judging according to outward appearances,” instead look to a person’s heart there you will find the true person. The outside is only window dressing. The inside is where the true person lies.

Doodle #103, America Stuck in the Dessert

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What can said about Americans but that we love our desserts. According to a USA Today article published in 2013 at least, “40% of consumers surveyed say they’re eating desserts after a meal at least twice weekly,” but that number is probably higher.  Why the love for sweets? America seems to have developed a taste for overindulgence for sugar.

I know I am one of those people. As a small child and beyond my mom always told me, “Timmy stop eating all them sweets, it is not good for you.” Now as I age and hindsight being what it is I should have headed her warning.  I, for the last 15 years, am a diabetic. Part of the root cause was eating too much sugary foods and soda. The other part was being to sedentary. Truthfully my doctor told me I would have developed diabetes at some point in my life, but I could have put it off for many more years had I been in better health.

Today’s advice is both Biblical and just that advice. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 9:27, “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” In other words avoid the sweets and other things bad for you and eat right. Also make sure not to be sedentary and keep moving. I wish I would have sought to be healthier when I was younger maybe I would have been in better health now.

Doodle #102, Bee Smelling The Flowers

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Bees are important to our ecosystem. They pollinate flowers. They make honey. Still many people see bees as pests.  In the same way we as followers of Jesus can also be considered pests if we are pron to fly around stinging people with our words. As Christian we are meant to be the ones who pollinate the world with love using words like honey. 

It does not mean we condone wrong doing. It means we are not to judge others lest as the bible says, “We will the ones judged.” I have lived a life full of flaws so I always seek to remember those times when I made mistakes. This helps me keep a humble heart which seekers to help others not hinder them.

Doodle #101, Everybody Loves Lemonade ,Even Cats

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I am a Southern boy, born in the south but raised in the north but I still love some of the southern traditions. One of those traditions is sitting on the front porch sipping on a glass of lemonade or sweet tea while you’re casually conversing with your family members or next door neighbors.

Even cats I’ve had in the past will drink lemonade if you leave it sit around long enough. So here’s to a cool glass of lemonade on a hot day, some good conversation with friends, family and neighbors and a warm season spent making memories.

What Is True Art?

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Have you ever looked at a piece of art only to say to yourself, “That is not true art.” I know I have. In fact many times in this drawing challenge I have question the validity of the pictures I am creating. Today I published my 100th doodle and as always I have doubts in my mind about whether they are even good enough to see the light of day. I have been taught as an artist, unless your work is well, great, it is not art.

However I have come to realize through this challenge that art does not have to be a perfect configurations of lines and colors to be considered true art. The key to creating true art is simply learning the basic principles of art such as composition, color to name two and then going about the creation process.  The only reason I mention learning the basics is so when you break the rules in creating abstracts and the like you know what rules your are breaking.

So in the end you see true art is not what is true to others it is true to you. I am not a trained artist. I did not go to any fancy art school. I simple took a couple community college art classes and moved on from there. My art may not be earth shattering and not fit into everybody’s tastes but it is the types of art I like to create. It is my true art.

Doodle #100, Always Eat Your Veggies

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I remember as a kid my mom always telling me to, “Eat my veggies or else I was not going to get any dessert.” Then she would proceed to plop down in front of me a salad or other veggies and I would sit there with a scowl on my face think, “I’ve got to eat this stuff. Can’t we just skip right to dessert?”

Her reply was always, “If you eat to much dessert and not enough vegetables you will get big.” Jump ahead quite a few years and I am still struggling with my weight. I used to blame it on my genes. However after loosing some weight and keeping it off by eating right I am sure had I listened to my mom and eaten my vegetables I would not have developed a sweet tooth I would have probably lived a healthier life and not have developed some of the problem related to weight gain.

I don’t know what all this has to do with art but their is a lesson in their somewhere. The Bible does say in Proverbs 1:8, “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching.” There are times in our lives when our parents seem like the most clueless people on the planet. Looking back they were not the clueless ones I was for not heading their advice on a number of topics.

Doodle #99, Kittens-an Overview

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If you haven’t guessed by now the prompt for today is the word, kittens. It seems like I just can’t get away from drawing cats and kittens. Prompt or no prompt cats are my favorite subject to render in pen, pencil or any number of creative media. Well truly there is not much advice I can give you about raising cats. If memory serves me correctly from all the cats I had growing up and the ones my son had before he moved out cats  kind of raise you.

Cats can be finicky or loving, standoffish or friendly, it all depends on what mood they are in at the moment. One thing I do love about cats is they are self cleaning, well except for the litter box once in a while. Try to get your teenagers to clean up after themselves and see how it goes. I have four children, two were clean freaks, the other two not so much. I am still finding stuff stashed in different places in my house even though my one child moved out four years ago. Thrift stores have become my frequent destinations.

Still when it comes to cleanliness I will take messy children who don’t get into trouble in and out of school any day. My children had their ups and downs but they have all turned out well having good jobs and for three of them families of their own. It is all a parent can hope for to have successful children.

Doodle #98 Getting the Bird to Pose

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My doodle “Getting the Bird to Pose,” was inspired by the word prompt, hummingbird. I have only seen hummingbirds a few times in my lifetime. Each year my wife puts out one of those hummingbird feeders in order to try and draw the birds out. So far she has had limited success.  Hummingbirds are interesting little creatures They flit and flutter around with seeming tirelessness from flower to flower sucking out the nectar.

How hard it must be to get one of these little birds to pose for a picture. Which reminds me of those early days as a parent when you try to get the perfect picture of your children. Nothing ever seems to go right. One child is looking one way, another will not smile and still another is crying. Still my wife perseveres in order to get that one magical moment when all the children look perfect for the photographer. It seldom worked but each year we went through the same ritual.  Just one of the joys of parenting I miss, not.

Don’t get me wrong. I love to have pictures of my kids and grandchildren readily available for others to see. I however like the unplanned spontaneous moments when the children are being children. The best family moments to capture on your camera, smart phone, or whatever are those that come when you’re not planning for them, when your family is being a family at play. Remember just like you’ll never get a bird to pose for picture you’ll never get the true essence of family life unless you are prepared and ready to capture the spontaneous.